Popocatepetl Volcano Spews Volcanic Ash onto Mexico City, Stage 3 Alert - On Saturday, residents awoke to layers of volcanic dust on their cars and coming into their homes thanks to the Popocateptl volcano. The volcano emitted 39 exhalations of a "low to moderate" magnitude in 24 hours. The volcano is currently in the middle of an extremely active phase.
Mexico City residents are still experiencing the harsh repercussions from the deadly volcano. Reports indicate that a cloud of ash and vapor 2 miles high was shot out from the volcano over a period of several days last week. Though officials note that it has been years since the city has seen noticeable volcanic ash, very fine ash has probably been hitting the city due to volcanic acitivity from previous days and may have worsened with rainfall that came Friday. Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention reported that security warnings have changed from Stage 2 Yellow to Stage 3 Yellow. (The final rare Red Stage alert would call for evacuation.)
The main risk for the metropolis is that people wouldn't know how to handle problems with ash. "If there is an eruption, we wouldn't evacuate Mexico City. For us the main risk is the handling of volcanic ashes." As of Friday, the U.S. airlines canceled at least one flight at Mexico City's airport as a precautionary measure. Four other airlines also canceled a total of 17 flights "due to climate conditions and in accordance with their own internal policies."
The volcano is approximately 40 miles from the apirport which is just a few miles east of the city's center. The Environment Ministry is urging Mexico City Residents to stay inside whenever possible and wear dusk masks, as well as cover water supplies. When outside, officials state that it's also important to sweep up ash and place it in plastic bags as to prevent the formation of a concrete mix that could block drains.

**Satisfaction is not always the fulfillment of what you want; it is the realization of how blessed you are for what you have.**

Philippines - Alert Level 1 raised over Taal as Phivolcs records 7 volcanic quakes. Although Phivolcs said the alert level does not mean a hazardous eruption is imminent, it reminded the public “that the main crater should be strictly off-limits because sudden steam explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases."

In the Western Pacific -
Tropical storm Soulik was located approximately 165 nm northwestward of Taipei, Taiwan. The last advisory has been issued on this system.

Remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal - NOAA forecasts that environmental conditions for redevelopment of Chantal's remnants back into a tropical cyclone have become less favorable. This system has a low chance (10%) of becoming a tropical cyclone again.
As of 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Satuday July 13, National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, has issued its tropical weather outlook due to the presence of two weather systems; one located off the Florida panhandle and the other is an area of disturbed weather associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal 2013 that is producing disorganized thunderstorms and gusty winds northeast of the Bahamas. Spaghetti models are not in agreement as to whether INVEST 96 will remain into the open Atlantic or move towards South Carolina in the next 24 hours. But NOAA predicts that INVEST 96 will merger into a frontal system in the next day or so along the eastern U.S.
The other system is a weak area of low pressure that appears to be forming over the Gulf of Mexico. Conditions are favorable for a non-tropical low to form. This system has a low chance (10%) of becoming a tropical cyclone again during the next 48 hours as it drifts to the north.
(satellite photo & map)

South Africa Natural Disasters - They rarely get tropical cyclones or hurricanes, at least not the way they are known in the United States. The last tropical cyclone that directly affected the country was tropical cyclone Domoina, which occurred in January 1984.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

Minnesota - A rainstorm that dropped more than 4 inches of rain in parts of eastern Minnesota has flooded streets and knocked out power to thousands of customers. Frefighters helped evacuate two homes in Dundas, just outside of Northfield. In Faribault, water was 7 to 8 inches deep on some roads Saturday.
Public-works crews scrambled to deal with overwhelmed storm drains that left streets flooded from Bloomington to Shakopee. The storm also knocked out power in the Twin Cities area. At 7 a.m., as many as 11,000 people from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie were without power. As of noon, about 2,500 customers were still without power.

Rain creates flooding in Vegas-area wildfire area - Firefighters worked amid rainstorms and flash flooding Friday to contain a wildfire that has burned since July 1 in the mountains northwest of Las Vegas, while U.S. Forest Service crews began trying to restore damaged plant and animal habitat.
Officially, a quarter of an inch of rain fell on the nearly 44-square-mile area charred by flames and left prone to mudslides. "It was a nice rain. It wasn't a downpour." Still, it rained hard enough on and around Mount Charleston to create flash flooding in eastern parts of the fragile and damaged burn zone. There was no immediate word of damage to roads or homes.
Mountain fire near Vegas burns 6 ranch structures - Firefighters worked to improve and expand fire lines already constructed around 43 percent of the fire, including near more than 400 homes, a rustic hotel and a scenic alpine lodge in the Kyle Canyon area about 25 miles northwest of Las Vegas. They also worked to limit the spread of the fire southeast toward the scenic Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, just 17 miles west of the Strip. Elsewhere, Forest Service workers deployed to begin installing erosion barriers, sowing seeds and planting trees to try to stabilize soil in high-risk areas. The Burned Area Emergency Response effort could continue for a year.
More than 500 residents remained evacuated from the Rainbow, Old Town and Echo hamlets in Kyle Canyon, heading into a second weekend out of their homes. Fire officials determined the danger was still too great to let them return. "I wouldn't say (Kyle Canyon) is out of danger. There's still fire in cliff bands. There's still a threat." No new structures were lost Friday, and no new injuries were reported.
One fire support staff member was hurt Tuesday, the same day flames swept through a remote 40-acre ranch resort, claiming a lodge, a cabin, two sheds and an outhouse. A nearby commercial building also burned. Officials say the fire was sparked by lightning July 1 in the Spring Mountains National Recreation area near Trout Springs. Fire managers hope to have it contained by July 19. The cost of battling the blaze was expected to top $12 million.
In northern Nevada, mop-up and fire line rehabilitation began on the sprawling Bison Fire in the Pine Nut Mountains near Gardnerville and Carson City. Officials said the fire there was 80 percent contained. The Bison blaze, sparked by lightning July 4, covered roughly 43 square miles of rugged terrain in Douglas and Lyon counties, and cost almost $5.7 million to fight. One old structure in the Slater Mine area burned.

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

Green drought hits south west Victoria - A RECORD HOT AND DRY SUMMER in southern Australia has led to a phenomenon known as a green drought. The season broke very late this year, and even though it has rained, it's too cold for pasture growth. In south west Victoria, livestock are literally starving. There's a national shortage of fodder, and what little is left is selling for record prices.
"They're suffering extremely. I really detest the way these cows are suffering. Even though we're feeding what I can afford to feed, in a month's time they are going to have neither hay or silage and I just hope that we're going to have some grass." The dairy cows look skinny, their rib bones are obvious. "They just physically can't eat enough grass. Normally they'd be eating around six to 10 kilograms of grass at this time of year. These cows are lucky to get a kilogram of grass at the moment. They are extremely hungry."
One dairy farmer is spending $4000 a day on hay for his 400 cows. It's more than what his milk cheque is returning. "I'm too scared to do the sums. At the moment the priority is cows, and we always put the cows first before ourselves." There are pockets of drought in the district. "A lot of farmers have to decide whether they feed their family or feed their cattle."

Dust storm roars across parts of Arizona - 1 person injured, some homes damaged Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a dust storm warning including the Phoenix metro and adjacent East Valley from 1:11 p.m. to 3 p.m. MT after nearby severe storms with strong winds swept up the dust, halting flights, cutting off power to hundreds and blinding some drivers. (slideshow)

HEALTH THREATS -

As Cyclospora cases in Iowa and Nebraska grow to 80, officials are eyeing fresh vegetables as possible culprits.

RECALLS & ALERTS
- Olde Thompson Inc. Issues a Recall of Earth’s Pride Organics: Organic Oregano 2.2 Oz Glass Jars With Cork Closure Due to Possible Salmonella Risk.
- Torn and Glasser, Inc of Los Angeles, CA is voluntarily recalling some packaged Pistachios because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
- Western Mixers Produce & Nut Company of Los Angeles, California is recalling ARO and/or Treasured Harvest Pistachios, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

About Me

Hello and welcome!
I'm Crystal - the sole creator and maintainer of this site.
I started the webpage in 1998 - just before the turn of the millenium, when everyone was talking about the disasters that were coming.